Kerr Community Center
National Register of Historic Places

Kerr Community Center

Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas
Listed
December 22, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
78003339

About this property

The Kerr Community Center, originally called Kerr Hall, is a community center located in Bastrop, Texas, United States. The hall was a gathering spot for the African-American community of Bastrop during the time of racial segregation in the United States. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1978. Kerr Community Center is a two-story wood-frame structure built in 1914 by Beverly and Lula Kerr on a lot directly behind their own home. The center hosted social events and artistic performances by black artists such as master blues pianist Roosevelt Williams, known to his fans as "Grey Ghost." During World War II, the structure served as a USO post for the black soldiers assigned to Camp Swift. Beverly Kerr died in 1941 and Lula Kerr died in 1944. In 1946, some local citizens formed the Kerr Center Association and purchased the building from the Kerr estate. The center had an official dedication in 1952. The building received major renovations that were completed in 2007 including a small park and playground.

Location

1308 Walnut
Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas
30.10850, -97.31246

Categories

BLACK
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Kerr, Beverly and Lula, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Ploeger-Kerr-White House
Industrial
0.1 mi
MKT Depot
Industrial
0.2 mi
Fry, P. A., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Taylor, Campbell and Greenlief Fisk, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kerr Community Center listed on the National Register?

Kerr Community Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Kerr Community Center?

Kerr Community Center is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kerr Community Center?

The period of significance for Kerr Community Center is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Kerr Community Center?

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